John Jay College Expansion Project

New York, NY

AE Senior Thesis Final Report

This report is the culmination of a yearlong study performed on the John Jay College Expansion Project located in Manhattan.  This academic building includes a midrise tower with classrooms, laboratories, and office spaces that reaches a maximum height of approximately 240 feet above 11th avenue.  A 14 story tower is connected to the existing building with a 5 story podium which encases a “grand cascade”.  Amtrak tracks pass beneath the South-West corner of the site, which led to a unique structural solution of the midrise tower.

Levels 1 through 5 are transferred over the Amtrak tracks using built-up steel girders.  Limited in depth to 3’-0” between the 1st floor and Amtrak tunnel, these built-up steel girders only have enough capacity to support the first 5 levels.  To transfer the remaining 9 levels, trusses at the mechanical penthouse cantilever out from a braced frame core.  Perimeter plates hang from the trusses and support floor framing of the 6th through 13th levels. 

While this innovative solution creates some attractive architectural features, such as thin perimeter plates instead of columns, it is complicated to construct.  Since the major transfer system is located at the top of the building, temporary supports and bracing must be used until the penthouse trusses are completed.  Therefore, the main goal of this study was to design a more constructible transfer solution.

For the entire report, click here.

For the Executive Summary, click here.

For the Structural Depth Study, click here.

For the Architecutral Breadth Study, click here.

For the Construction Management Breadth Study, click here.